Abstract [en]

Mountainous areas with a high dependency on its tourism industry are often relatively small and remote. But some of these areas have faced a population increase due to large in-migration;Wanaka in New Zealand’s Southern Alps is one example. This paper is studying the migration motivations of a few individuals that have moved to Wanaka and how they started to feel like part of their new community. The meaning of the place is important for these newcomers. The results of the study indicate that there is a strong link between the community and the lifestyle that in-migrants are seeking. It also highlights the importance for in-migrants to be a part of the social community. Social Clubs, sport clubs and voluntary work are ways of becoming a part of a social network.

Hauge, Atle

Abstract [en]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the dynamics of development in a small rural region. Sälen in Sweden is a typical ski resort, with vast seasonal fluctuation of people and amenities. Our main analytical tool is Richard Florida’s theory on the Creative Class. This is a somewhat original approach for this type of context. Despite the great impact and controversy the theory of the Creative Class has had in both academia and among policy makers, it has primarily been applied on larger urban areas. The last few decades have seen a clear tendency towards urbanisation; cities and larger urban regions have undergone the most positive development, both in terms of job creation and the number of inhabitants. However, some rural areas have experienced positive development not normally seen in this type of vicinities. A dominating tourism industry is often seen as serving as an engine for overall development. This paper attempts to re-conceptualise the theory of the Creative Class to determine how it can be used to understand development in rural tourism-dominated areas.

Abstract [en]

This paper analyses the importance of tourism employment for in-migration to Malung/Sälen and Älvdalen, two rural municipalities hosting two major tourist destinations in the southern Swedish mountains. It uses micro-data from a database that includes, among many other variables, residence and employment information. This work is explorative and uses longitudinal data that permit examining individuals and go beyond simple net employment figures to show that many in-migrants to these municipalities are employed in tourism and constitute part of what is defined as the “creative workforce” in the local labour market. In this sense, tourism employment is found to be a pull factor for in-migration of highly skilled and well-paid people.